VOLUME 22 NUMBER 3
FREE
APRIL16, 2016
Published Since April 1995 Serving DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale Counties • www.facebook.com/ocgnews
DeKalb County opens second CNG fueling station By Valerie J. Morgan
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hose who drive Honda Civics, Dodge Rams, Ford F-250 pickups and other compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles now have another gas station where they can fill up their tanks. DeKalb County and Atlanta Gas Light officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 14 for the second CNG public fueling station owned by the county. CNG is captured from methane, which comes from garbage processed at the county’s landfill. It’s the same kind of gas that lights up stoves and heats up many homes, and it’s considered cleaner than other forms of gas. The new CNG station, located at the DeKalb County Sanitation Division, Central Transfer Station,
3720 Leroy Scott Drive, Decatur, offers fuel at $2.10 a gallon. That’s the same bargain price the county has offered since its first public CNG station opened in 2012 at the DeKalb County Seminole Road Landfill, 4203 Clevemont Road, Ellenwood.
Photo by Glenn L. Morgan /OCG News
“This second county-owned CNG station demonstrates our continuing commitment to offering the public an alternative, environmentally friendly and much more affordable fuel source,” said Interim CEO Lee May. “AGL has been instrumental in advancing
our efforts in this regard.” AGL President Bryan Batson praised DeKalb for its efforts and commitment to provide cleaner fuel. “Using CNG represents a 90 percent reduction for your carbon footprint. You will reap benefits for years and your children will have cleaner air,” Batson said. The new fueling station was developed and constructed under Atlanta Gas Light’s CNG Infrastructure Program, which supports the growth of fueling infrastructure for natural gas vehicles. The program is approved by the state of Georgia’s Public Service Commission, and utilizes AGL’s Universal Service Fund to encourage CNG vehicle and infrastructure See Fueling Station, page 10
Georgia’s unemployment rate rises to 5.5 percent in March Construction jobs on the rise, hospitality jobs decrease
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler
ATLANTA—The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) said the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in March was 5.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.4 percent in February. The rate was 6.2 percent in March 2015. “Even though the rate went up slightly, March was really a good month for Georgia’s labor market,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “Our employers created 12,600 jobs, which is much stronger than the average for the same period over the last three years, and they had fewer lay offs. Our labor force grew by 21,570, bringing the total growth this year to more than 55,000.” It was the additional labor force growth that caused the rate increase. While jobseekers are searching for work, they’re counted as unemployed. The
number of unemployed in Georgia rose by 4,827. There were also 16,743 more Georgians employed in March. The number of jobs increased by 0.3 percent in March to 4,359,100, up from 4,346,500 in February. Over the previous three years, Georgia has gained an average of 9,600 jobs from February to March. Most of the increase came in construction, 4,300; education and health services, 4,100; government, 1,900, along with trade, transportation and warehousing and information services, 1,100 each. The overall job gains were somewhat offset by losses in professional and business services and leisure and hospitality. “While our month-to-month job growth was strong, our over-the-year job growth was even stronger,” Butler said. “We continue to out pace the rest of the nation.” Georgia’s March-toMarch job growth rate was 3.1 percent, compared to the national rate of 2 percent. There was an over-the-year increase of 130,000 jobs, from March 2015. The sectors showing the largest increases were professional and business services, 29,300; trade, transportation and warehousing, 28,100; leisure and hospitality, 20,000; construction, 15,500; education and health services, 13,500; manufacturing, 9,900, government,
7,400; financial activities, 5,700, and other services, 2,400. Information services was the only major employment sector to lose jobs, with a loss of 1,600. While the number of jobs increased, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 1,357, or 4.6 percent, to 27,982 in March. Most of the decline was due to a decrease in claims filed in manufacturing and construction, administrative and support services, and trade, transportation and warehousing. And, over the year, the num-
ber of claims declined by 1,914, or 6.4 percent, from 29,896 filed in March 2015. The decrease came mostly in construction. Butler continued to encourage job seekers and employers to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, Employgeorgia.com, to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In March, 78,986 jobs throughout the state were posted on Employ Georgia. The leading sectors for job postings were health care and social assistance, professional, scientific and technical services and retail trade.
PAGE 2 •APRIL 16, 2016
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DeKalb Tax Commissioner’s Office launches self-service tag kiosks
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eKalb Tax Commissioner Irvin J. Johnson announces the availability of two self-service tag renewal kiosks now located inside the 24-hour Kroger stores at 2875 North Decatur Road, Decatur and 3559 Cr 3559 Chamblee Tucker Road, Atlanta. Currently, both of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The kiosks may be recognized by their key lime green color and the Georgia Motor Vehicle Department’s self-serDeKalb Tax Commissioner Irvin Johnson shows off one of the Kroger Kiosks. vice logo. In order to use these • Have valid proof their transaction in a few Intellectual Technology, Inc. kiosks, the customer must of insurance in the minutes and will be charged Customers may also meet all the necessary criGeorgia Database a convenience fee of $ 3 in renew tags in DeKalb at: teria to complete their tag on file at the time of addition to the cost of their 4380 Memorial Drive; 1358 renewal: renewal tag renewal. These kiosks Dresden Drive; or 2801 • Live in a county with • Have a valid passwill process debit and credit Candler Road (inside South the kiosk system ing emission (if cards with the associated DeKalb Mall) or online at • Have a valid Georgia required) inspection transaction fee but they do www.dekalbcountyga.gov/ driver’s license or record on file at the not handle cash. Customers taxcommissioner or www. have your renewal time of renewal may process up to 10 vehidor.georgia.gov/mvd-selfnotice sent to you by • Pay all registration cle registrations per transac- service-centers. mail fees, taxes and the tion at these kiosks. For more information, • Know your tag convenience fee by This service enhancecontact the Tax Commisnumber or have your debit or credit card ment is possible due to the sioner’s office at 404-298correct address on Customers who utilize ongoing partnership with the 4000. renewal notice these kiosks can complete Department of Revenue and
Rockdale offers Community Emergency Response Training
Citizens are invited to sign up for a basic Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training that Rockdale County Fire-Rescue is hosting starting in late April. The 20-hour class is scheduled for seven consecutive Thursday nights beginning April 28 from 6 – 9 p.m. The deadline to apply is April 25. The educational training is free, but class size is limited, so Fire-Rescue officials are encouraging people to register as soon as they can. The CERT program will offer insight into the first few critical hours following an emergency-related event and how individuals can become empowered to better prepare to sustain themselves and their families. Prospective candidates must be at least 18 years old and a Georgia resident. Applicants will be required to sign a Waiver of Liability form and will be subject to a criminal history background check as a pre-condition to acceptance into the program. To apply, visit the Fire-Rescue page on the County’s website at www.rockdalecountyga.gov or call 770-278-8453.
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Forum set to help places of worship respond to active shooters
Coming Up
DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson and the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency are conducting a forum, “Emergency Preparedness: How to Respond to Active Shooters in Places of Worship” on April 28, 6 p.m., at New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. The forum is designed to educate all places of worship on how to appropriately and responsively handle someone threatening congregants and their leaders with gun violence. This event is open to congregants, auxiliaries, leaders, security teams and the general public. Anyone who wishes to attend can register for free online at https://commissionerlarryjohnsonemergencypreparedness. eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Commissioner Larry Johnson’s Office at 404-371-2988 or email larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov.
‘Tiny house’ tour at Ponce City Market
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iny House Atlanta and Georgia Tiny Rentals will offer free home tours of a fully furnished handcrafted tiny home April 21—23 at Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta. The event is free and open to the public Thursday, April 21, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, April 22—23, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The 269-square-foot home is equipped with a full kitchen, full bathroom with a shower, a cozy living area with a futon couch and TV, and two lofts with queen size beds. The tiny home comfortably sleeps six adults. For more information, visit www.tinyhouseatlanta.com or www.gatinyrentals.com.
ATLANTA
Yoga art exhibit celebrates one-year anniversary Feed your senses at the one-year anniversary of MovingArtATL art show Saturday, April 16, 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., at the Artlanta Gallery, 645 Shelton Ave., Atlanta. The event will feature yoga, music and live art all under one roof. Patrons will enjoy professionally-curated sounds by DJ Empress Rah along with an eclectic array of indulgent vegetarian goodies including fresh pressed juices and an assortment of vegetarian entrées. Advance tickets are sold out, but show goers can arrive early to purchase a limited number of same-day tickets. For more information, visit www.movingartatl.com.
DEKALB
Forum set to help places of worship respond to active shooters DeKalb County District 3 Commissioner Larry Johnson and the DeKalb Emergency Management Agency are conducting a forum, “Emergency Preparedness: How to Respond to Active Shooters in Places of Worship” on April 28, 6 p.m., at New Life Community Center, 3592 Flat Shoals Road, Decatur. The forum is designed to educate all places of worship on how to appropriately and responsively handle someone threatening congregants and their leaders with gun violence. This event is open to congregants, auxiliaries, leaders, security teams and the general public. Anyone who wishes to attend can register for free online at https://commissionerlarryjohnsonemergencypreparedness. eventbrite.com. For more information, contact Commissioner Larry Johnson’s Office at 404-371-2988 or email larryjohnson@dekalbcountyga.gov.
Teach your baby sign language Join the baby experts and partner organization, Transformations, for a free introductory class of the Baby Signs Too ® Program! on April 23, 1:15 p.m., at the Stonecrest Babies R Us, 8160 Mall Parkway, Lithonia. Come sing some songs, learn some signs, and play with your babies! This class will give parents an idea of what the Baby Signs Too ® Program is all about from a certified instructor. Come learn ways to encourage communication skills in your child. For more information or to reserve a seat, call 770-484-9697 or reserve your spot online at https://reserve.babiesrus.com/events.
GWINNETT
Police hosts annual Multicultural Festival The third annual Gwinnett Multicultural Festival will take place Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Gwinnett Place Mall parking lot between the old JC Penney and Belk stores, 2100 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth. The free event offers families the opportunity to see the services provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department and interact with officers. In addition to meeting officers from various units such as Animal Welfare and Enforcement, CSI, and the DUI Task Force, families can enjoy cultural performances, food vendors, and kids’ activities such as a rock wall, dunk tank, and inflatables. For more information, call the Crime Prevention Unit at 770.513.5119. .Gwinnett County to host 10th Annual Supplier Symposium It’s time to clean out those closets. Bring household goods, toys, clothes, and other items that have been pushed around for months. Join the community “yard sale” on Saturday, April 16, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Rockdale Government Annex parking lot, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The fee for county residents to sell is $10 per parking space; and $15 for non-county residents. Fees can be paid the day of the yard sale. Set up time begins at 7 a.m. Participants must provide their own tables and chairs.
Snellville Days Festival offers weekend of fun The Snellville Days Festival, featuring more than 150 arts and crafts booths, 20 food vendors and live entertainment, will be held April 30 to May 1, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, at T.W. Briscoe Park, 2500 Sawyer Parkway, Snellville. There will be a children’s activities area and plenty of festival food. The Snellville Days Festival will begin with a parade through downtown Snellville at 10 a.m. Admission to the festival is free.
ROCKDALE
Third annual Baby Fair at Rockdale Medical Center The Rockdale Medical Baby Fair will be held on Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rockdale Medical Center, 1412 Milstead Ave NE, Conyers in the East Tower Lobby. This event is free to the public. There will be vendors, free Birth Place tours, educational workshops, free car seat checks and more. For more information, call 770-918-3000.
Spring yard sale set at Rockdale Annex parking lot It’s time to clean out those closets! Bring household goods, toys, clothes, and other items that have been pushed around for months. Join the community “yard sale” on Saturday, April 16, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Rockdale Government Annex parking lot, 1400 Parker Road, Conyers. The fee for county residents is $10 per parking space and $15 for non-county residents. Fees can be paid the day of the yard sale. Set up time begins at 7 a.m. Participants must provide their own tables and chairs Event details may change at any time. Please always check with the event organizer before you go. To submit your event to Coming Up, email editor@ocgnews.com.
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DeKalb History Center to host Native Americans of Georgia Bus Tour
APRIL 16, 2016 • PAGE 5
GLCC to present Scholarship Awards Luncheon
The Greater Lithonia Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural Scholarship Awards Luncheon on April 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at This Is It banquet facility, 2853 Panola Road, Lithonia. Dr. R. Stephen Green, Superintendent of DeKalb County School District, will be the keynote speaker. Launched in 2015, the Chamber’s Scholarship Program was made possible by the generous donations of community leaders and Chamber members. College-bound students from four Lithonia high schools competed to earn the scholarships to help defray their college expenses. To register to attend the luncheon, please visit www.greaterlighoniachamber.com . Pre-registration is $20 for guests and $25 on site. Chamber members are free with pre-registration and $10 on site.
The Fellowship of Jesus Christ Church Presents
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he DeKalb History Center is hosting a bus tour to visit the historic sites of Native Americans in Georgia. Tickets are available now for the May 7 bus tour, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Travel to three of the major Native American sites in North Georgia: The Etowah Indian Mounds, New Echota and the Chief Vann House. At each site you will go on a tour led by an archaeologist or historian, learning about the Mississippian period, the Historic period and Indian Removal. Stand on top of the Indian mound that overlooks the former village plaza, see the stone fishing traps in the Etowah River that were constructed by the natives hundreds of years ago, experience the printing of the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper, enter the Cherokee courthouse and enter the home of a Cherokee planter. You will be amazed at the Native cultures that existed here in Georgia. The tour is May 7 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets are $80 for DeKalb History Center members and $95 for nonmembers (lunch included). Register at www.dekalbhistory.org or by calling 404-373-1088, ext. 20.
Former Chamblee officer sentenced to life A DeKalb County judge sentenced former Chamblee and MARTA policeman Kelless Twohearts Lory to life in prison on April 12/ Lory, 58, was convicted of two counts of aggravated child molestation and two counts of child molestation. Prosecutors showed that Lory molested a 9-yearKelless Twohearts Lory old female family member from July 2011 to July 2012. DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gail Flake chastised Lory from the bench for the impact his actions have had on the victim and on the image of police officers. “You’ve certainly deprived her of the right to a safe and happy childhood,” Flake said. “The fact (that) you were a police officer has brought even more attention to this case, and unfortunately, has probably negatively impacted the reputation of police officers throughout our community who are struggling with, perhaps, a negative impression by some members of the public.” When the jury verdict was announced, Lory drank an unknown substance from an over-the-counter vitamin bottle he had with him in court. He was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital when the substance, which was later determined to be poisonous, took effect.
DeKalb Code Enforcement announces new location
DeKalb County Code Enforcement is moving its offices from 330 Ponce De Leon Ave. to its new location: 1807 Candler Road, Decatur. The move date is scheduled to be completed by Monday, April 18. “During the transition, Code Enforcement staff will strive to maintain consistent levels of service,” said Code Enforcement and Compliance Administrator Marcus Kellum. “Residents should be advised that there may be some delays in response during the move and staff availability may be limited.” For more information regarding this move, please call 404-687-3700.
“A Night of Inspiration,” an uplifting evening of fun, faith and a stunning showcase of God’s talent on display. This variety show extraordinaire features comedian, Cyrus Steele, as seen on the Jimmy Fallon Show, Stellar Award Nominated singer, Ralph Williams, and other dynamic singers, powerhouse spoken word artists and more. Friday, April 29, 2016 Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Show begins at 7:30 p.m. JP Carr Center, 90 Hardin
Cyrus Steele
St., S.W., Conyers Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door For more information, contact Rachel at 404-480-2367.
PAGE 6 •APRIL 16, 2016
City of Atlanta sets scrap tire drive
The Atlanta City Council and the Department of Public Works are asking residents to help clean up the environment by bringing in scrap tires for free disposal during the month of April. Getting rid of scrap tires around your home will help eliminate insect breeding sites in your neighborhood and keep the city beautiful. The next collection will take place on Saturday, April 16, 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (ChaRM), located at 1110 Hill Street, S.E. and from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the parking lot of The Mall West End, 850 Oak Street, S.W. Criteria for the tire scrap drive: • Only car tires and light duty truck tires will be accepted. • Tires with rims and large truck tires will not be accepted • This collection is not open to commercial businesses • There is no limit on the amount of tires collected by residents and community groups The city of Atlanta is committed to reducing the amount of scrap tires in the city. The city collects an average of 5,000 illegally dumped scrap tires each month through various community partners, said Keep Atlanta Beautiful Executive Director Kanika Greenlee. “Scrap tires take up large amounts of space in landfills are often dumped into illegal tire piles. These scrap tire piles can be a threat to the environment. Tires exposed to the elements can hold water and be a breeding space for mosquitoes,” Greenlee said. The month-long scrap tire drive is sponsored by the Atlanta City Council, Department of Public Works, Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Liberty Tire Recycling.
To volunteer, report illegally dumped scrap tires or for questions, contact the Keep Atlanta Beautiful Commission at 404-330-6721 or email kngreenlee@atlantaga.gov. This month’s scrap tire collections comes at a time when U.S. public health officials used their strongest language to date just this week in warning about a possible Zika outbreak in the United States. Zika is spread by the bite of the Aedes aegypti and possibly the Aedes albopictus mosquito species that often breed in containers that collect standing water such as scrap tires, according to scientists. As summer approaches, public health officials are warning that mosquito eradication efforts especially of the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus species, as well as lab tests and vaccine research may not be able to catch up. Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus mosquitos are considered to be among the most widespread mosquito species and are prevalent in the Southern U.S. Additional scrap tire collections during the month of April will include: • April 21, April 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Shirley Place and Verbena Street, N.W. • April 22, 870 Proctor Street, N.W. • April 22 and April 23, Greenbriar Mall, 2841 Greenbriar Parkway, S.W. (parking lot) • April 23, Center for Hard to Recycle Materials, 1110 Hill Street, S.E. • April 28 through April 30, 2175 James Jackson Parkway, N.W. • April 30, Adamsville Recreation Center, 3201 Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive (parking lot)
Annual Taste of Conyers, car show set April 30 Mark your calendars for the 2016 Taste of Conyers and the Conyers Car Show, which will be held on Saturday, April 30, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., in Olde Town on Main Street. The annual event, hosted by the city of Conyers, promotes local restaurants. Buy tickets at the festival and sample a variety of
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food. There also will be live entertainment and Redline Events will present the Conyers Car Show. Admission is free. For more information, call the Conyers Welcome Center at 770602-2606 or visit www.conyersga.com.
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APRIL 16, 2016 • PAGE 7
The Rockdale Democratic Party Will Host Its Democratic Forum
On April 23, 9 a.m. PARTY HEADQUARTERS LOCATED AT 1264 PARKER ROAD, CONYERS 30094 Come out and hear from the candidates running for Sheriff, Senate District 43, House District 91 and House District 113 PLAN TO ATTEND AND BRING A NEIGHBOR WITH YOU.
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he City of Atlanta will celebrate Earth Week April 18-22 with a kickoff evening event and a volunteer day of service. The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, which is focused on incorporating best practices into Atlanta city government operations and working with the business and civic communities to support broader conservancy initiatives citywide, will host these events. Under Mayor Kasim Reed’s leadership, the Office of Sustainability has worked with commercial building owners to lead the nation with more than 100 million square feet committed in the Better Buildings Challenge, an effort to reduce water and energy consumption by 20 percent by 2020. The Office has also worked across City departments and agencies to reduce energy use in municipal facilities and created the first municipal solar program in the City of Atlanta. “We are excited about celebrating Earth Day all week long with environmental awareness programs. These programs will showcase the efforts of our office and countless stakeholders to protect our environment and to become a top-tier city for sustainability,” said Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. To kick off the week, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability will host Taste of AGlanta – an event that will highlight the City’s urban agriculture program
4D Traders Institute Coming to Atlanta to Teach You HOW TO MAKE A LIVING TRADING ONE HOUR PER DAY This free workshop will be held on April 24, 2016 from 4-5 PM Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel
To reserve a seat at this free event contact: Wayne @ 404-5095933 or keepitsimple425@gmail.com
City of Atlanta to celebrate Earth Week and feature tastings from Westside farm-to-table restaurants including JCT Kitchen, The Optimist, 5 Seasons, Bocado, Miller Union and Souper Jenny. The event, co-hosted by First Lady of Atlanta Sarah-Elizabeth Reed and Laura Turner Seydel, will be held at the Westside Cultural Arts Center from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Tickets can be purchased, and organizations and companies can learn about event sponsorship opportunities at tasteofaglanta.eventbrite.com. Proceeds from Taste of AGlanta will benefit urban agriculture in Atlanta, and enhance community gardens and educational school gardens in the Westside in association with the Captain Planet Foundation. The City of Atlanta is also hosting a community service project, Grow AGlanta, on April 22. Grow AGlanta is open to individuals and
members of corporations, colleges, organizations and community groups, along with federal, state and city agencies, to grow edible plantings with homeless teens at the Covenant House of Georgia from 9 a.m. to noon. At the Covenant House, volunteers will also construct a new greenhouse to support youth residents as they build a social enterprise of selling fresh vegetables. Other activities will include building raised bed gardens, harvesting spring gardens, gardening lessons from resident urban farmer Cullen Brown and working with culinary writer and chef, Nealey Dozier Thompson, to prepare a farm-to-fork culinary lunch experience for the first 50 volunteers. To register to volunteer, visit www.growaglanta.eventbrite.com.
PAGE 8 •APRIL 16, 2016
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OP-ED Voicing Your Opinion
APRIL 16,2016 • PAGE 9
Free advertising in our community must be stopped By Carolyn Jones
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ver the weekend, under the cover of darkness, a company by the name of Hirewire saturated our community with signs promoting their mobile App. A member of Brook Glen Neighborhood Association Clean Up Committee removed 60 of them from Flat Shoals Parkway between Flakes Mill/Wesley Chapel Roads and Columbia Drive. As of this afternoon, a number of them remain on Columbia Drive. This was obviously a targeted guerrilla marketing campaign designed to obtain maximum exposure for Hirewire’s Mobile App. Hirewire is a new start up, which raised $2 million in just weeks last August. The CEO and Founder of Hirewire is Chau Nguyen. The business is located at 3423 Pied-
mont Road, NE #320, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. If they want to reach consumers in this area, they should pay to run ads in our neighborhood papers. I’m sure Crossroads and On Common Ground would appreciate the business. The county continues to allow businesses to come to our community and advertise for free. These signs are visually unappealing and we, the taxpayers, have to pay for them to be removed with tax dollars that could be spent in other areas. We would like for something to be done about this particular company because they have clearly crossed the line. Carolyn Jones is a member of the South DeKalb Improvement Association and Brook Glen Neighborhood Association.
Contract awarded to build new senior center in Centerville
A new Centerville senior center will soon be under construction adjacent to the Centerville Community Center and the Centerville Branch Library on Bethany Church Road near Snellville. Gwinnett County commissioners awarded the $2.24 million contract to low bidder Hogan Construction Group LLC. Funding comes from the 2014 SPLOST program.
“This is the first time funding from the voter-approved SPLOST has been allocated specifically for capital projects that benefit our senior population. I can’t wait to get this new senior center up and running to serve senior residents in southern Gwinnett County,” said Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash. The 8,500-square-foot single-story facility will include a dining room, warming kitchen with serving line, multi-purpose room, billiards area, staff offices, and support space. It will serve as a nutrition site offering healthy meals that meet one-third of the daily recommended intake. Programming will promote healthy lifestyles and celebrate the diversity of Gwinnett residents 60 and older with activities that promote socialization and health and wellness. “Like other new County buildings recently, this one will be LEED-certified for sustainability and efficiency,” District 3 Commissioner Tommy Hunter said. The design anticipates older individuals with mobility, visual and hearing challenges engaged in activities to stay active and thriving in the community. Participants will also enjoy card games, billiards and interactive Wii-Fit games for increased mobility and strength. Programs will include tai chi for arthritis, fall prevention classes and chronic disease self-management classes, including one taught in Spanish. The Gwinnett County Health and Human Services Division operates similar senior centers in Buford, Lawrenceville and Norcross, with a satellite center operating at the Centerville Community Center since 2013. Parks and Recreation also runs senior centers at Bethesda Park and George Pierce Park. “After visiting the satellite senior center a few times now, I have seen the how popular it is with seniors in the area. I am excited that the new center will serve even more seniors who make up a fast-growing demographic in our community,” said Hunter.
State Rep. Doreen Carter to host series of legislative updates
State Rep. Doreen Carter, District 92, will host a series of town hall meetings to provide a legislative update for constituents. The dates are as follows: April 18, 7 p.m., City of Lithonia City Hall April 21, 6:30 p.m., Lou Walker Senior Center, Lithonia April 26, 7 p.m., Nancy Guinn Library, Conyers
PAGE 10•APRIL 16,2016
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DeKalb D.A. pushes for Jobs Not Jail program to help young offenders
By Valerie J. Morgan
D
eKalb County District Attorney Robert James applauded the three dozen or so employers who signed up to participate in his Jobs Not Jail program, which is offering select first-time felony offenders a second chance. “You can’t just fix a problem by talking about it. You’ve got to give young people who have gone down the wrong road something tangible to help them succeed. They need jobs,” said James. The D.A.’s Office partnered with DeKalb Workforce Development to host the April 13 kickoff calling for employers to sign up for the program. “This is a program that I started when I was Solicitor General, but the kickoff marks the first major push that we’ve made to get employers to sign up to provide jobs for the program,” said James. James said several studies have shown that when young offenders are employed, their chances of succeeding and staying out of trouble
improve dramatically. He said he wants to provide the opportunity to help more young offenders not just find low-level jobs but apprenticeships that hopefully, can help them move into higher-paying careers. At the kickoff, which was held at the DeKalb Historic Courthouse, James had on hand two graduates of the program. One young
Fueling Station continued from page 1
investment in Georgia. Billy Malone, associate director, DeKalb County Sanitation Division, said the county has saved over $1 million since it began using CNG. He said one-third of the CNG the county produces will power every vehicle in the Sanitation Division, allowing the garbage trucks to literally run off the trash the trucks haul. Malone said CNG provides savings to others as well. “It’s a stable fuel. The price has remained the same. It hasn’t moved,” said Malone. “We can control the cost because it’s produced at the landfill. The fueling station was developed and constructed under AGL’s CNG Infrastructure Program, which supports the growth of fueling infrastructure for natural gas vehicles. This program was approved by the state of Georgia’s Public Service Commission, and utilizes AGL’s Universal Service Fund to encourage CNG vehicle and infrastructure investment in Georgia. To date, six CNG public fueling stations have been built in DeKalb. The Sanitation Division has assisted with obtaining sponsorships and grant funding for five of the six fueling stations, with funding secured through the U.S. Department of Energy, Atlanta Gas Light and Clean Cities Georgia.
man, Darreous Respress, shared his testimony on how he was supposed to be heading off to college when he found himself on the wrong side of the law, arrested for burglary. “He was breaking in someone’s house, headed for jail. Now, he’s employed, getting his life together,” said James. Young people ages 17 to 25 are referred to the Jobs Not Jail program through DeKalb’s Anti-Recidivism Diversion Court program. Judges, attorneys and the D.A.’s office make the referrals. Those who are selected spend a year in the program. They must work or go to school, submit to random drug tests and maintain a 10 p.m. curfew. “Kids from all walks of life have graduated from the program. It’s a worthwhile endeavor because it is helping young people to succeed and it’s saving money. It costs roughly $1,600 a month to warehouse offenders and less than $500 for a whole year to put them through an Anti-Recidivism Diversion Court program.
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PAGE 12 •APRIL 16, 2016
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“We are rolling forward together as one” -Interim CEO Lee May
Phase II
Recycling ◊ Garbage roll cart rightsizing ◊ Additional garbage roll carts Changes to garbage and recycling container requirements and collection procedures
The DeKalb County Sanitation Division advances through Phase II of the Rolling Forward to One sanitation service change program. Please see below for county-provided recycling and garbage container options, and information on soon-to-be-implemented changes to garbage and recycling container requirements and collection procedures.
County-provided single-stream recycling options
18-gallon bin
65-gallon roll cart
40-gallon bag
County-provided garbage roll cart options
35-gallon roll cart
45-gallon roll cart
65-gallon roll cart
95-gallon roll cart
Coming April 18, 2016 Changes to garbage and recycling container requirements and collection procedures Only county-provided garbage and recycling containers are approved for use
Approved
Not Approved Customer-provided garbage container
County-provided recycling bin, bag and roll cart
County-provided garbage roll cart Secure, durable plastic bags for excess garbage
Customer-provided recycling container or bag
For more information, please call or visit: (404) 294-2900 • www.rollingforwardtoone.com • Follow @ItsInDeKalb on Twitter